> [!infobox] > # City of Ingenuity > ![[Ubbin Falls.jpg]]<span style="display:block;text-align:center;">[[Ubbin Falls.jpg|Show to Players]]</span> > ###### Information > | | | > |---|---| > |**Region**| [[Zalfaria]] | > |**Ruler**| [[Thrain Blackforge]] | # **Overview** Ubbin Falls is a mountain city nestled within The [[Bastion Peaks]], known for its invention, craftsmanship, and Dwarven ingenuity. A hub of engineering, metallurgy, and magical crafting, the city is home to master artisans, skilled artificers, and a thriving community of both Dwarves and non-Dwarves dedicated to progress. Its intricate architecture is carved directly into the mountains, featuring massive lifts, mechanical walkways, and aqueduct systems that harness the natural waterfalls cascading through the city. # Geography & Layout Ubbin Falls is built within and upon the mountains, utilizing both natural caverns and artificial structures reinforced with metal and stone. The great waterfalls that give the city its name are used to power massive watermills and forge bellows, making the city a marvel of both natural and mechanical harmony. - **The Upper Forge District:** Home to the finest blacksmiths, enchanters, and jewelcrafters in Zalfaria, many of whom supply noble houses, merchant guilds, and even Azmarinian dignitaries with enchanted weaponry and intricate craftsmanship. - **The Lower Gearworks:** A maze of workshops and laboratories where artificers and tinkerers experiment with mechanical and magical innovations, producing everything from automated constructs to cutting-edge steam-powered devices. - **The Market Caverns:** A sprawling bazaar within the mountain, featuring a mix of raw ores, exotic materials, enchanted items, and prototype inventions for sale. - **The Waterfall Chamber:** A sacred site where the largest waterfall runs through the city, believed to be a source of inspiration and divine craftsmanship. - **Anvil Pass:** The part of the city outside the mountain which acts as the initial forefront of Ubbin Falls. # Religion & Culture Many citizens see craftsmanship as a form of devotion, believing that to create something truly masterful is to honor the divine. Festivals often involve public displays of new inventions, smithing competitions, and collaborative works of art. # Achievements & Innovations ![[Ubbin Falls3.jpg|right|400]] - Ubbin Falls pioneered the steam-driven mechanisms used in watermills, automated bellows, and early constructs. - The city is the birthplace of the Skyforge Alloy, a lightweight but incredibly durable metal often used in airship components. - Ubbin Falls artisans are responsible for many of the finest enchanted weapons and armor across Zalfaria. - Artificers here have experimented with blending arcane magic and machinery, producing early prototypes of automaton guardians. # Politics & Governance Unlike the oligarchic rule of Zalfari, Ubbin Falls is governed by the Council of Crafters, a collective of master artisans, engineers, and guild leaders who vote on city matters. The High Craftsman, an elected figure chosen from among the council, acts as the city’s leader and spokesperson. The current High Craftsman is [[Dorim Goldvein]], a Dwarven blacksmith and enchanter known for his progressive views on integrating magic with machinery. # Economy & Trade Ubbin Falls is one of the most economically stable cities in Zalfaria due to its near-monopoly on high-end craftsmanship, metallurgy, and enchanted gear. It exports: - Weapons & armor (both mundane and enchanted) - Rare metals & alloys (mithril, skyforge alloy, adamantine) - Automaton components & mechanical parts - Steam-powered prototypes Imports include foodstuffs, textiles, lumber, and arcane reagents from Zalfari, Lockinge, and Kara’s Vale. # Social Structure & Way of Life Life in Ubbin Falls is fast-paced but highly meritocratic—one’s reputation is based on their skill, ingenuity, and contributions rather than birthright. Guilds hold significant power, and young apprentices aspire to earn the title of Master Crafter. The city values innovation, precision, and dedication above all else. # History Ubbin Falls is an ancient dwarven stronghold nestled deep within the Bastion Peaks, that has been home to many dwarf clans for millennia. Renowned for its impenetrable defenses and rich mineral deposits, Ubbin Falls was once the jewel of dwarven civilization, where master craftsmen, warriors, and scholars thrived. The stronghold was named after its founder, King Ubbin Stonehammer, a legendary dwarven king known for his vision and leadership. King Ubbin was a master engineer and architect, and he sought to create a fortress that would stand as a beacon of dwarven strength and ingenuity. He chose a strategic location at the base of a towering waterfall, which cascaded from the mountains above into a deep, underground reservoir. The waterfall provided a natural defense, a source of water, and power for the forges that would sustain the stronghold. ![[Ubbin Falls2.jpg|right|500]] The dwarves carved their city into the mountainside, using the waterfall as the centerpiece of their stronghold. The sound of the rushing water echoed throughout the halls of Ubbin Falls, giving the stronghold its name. The fortress quickly became known for its masterfully crafted weapons, armor, and the unique alloys forged using the minerals found in the mountains. For centuries, Ubbin Falls flourished under King Ubbin's descendants. However, this prosperity would eventually come to an end during what is now known as the Great Cataclysm. The catastrophe began with a series of inexplicable tremors that shook the Bastion Peaks. At first, the dwarves believed it was just the earth settling, but the tremors grew stronger and more frequent, until they culminated in a massive earthquake that shook the very foundations of the stronghold. The earthquake caused a section of the mountain above Ubbin Falls to collapse, redirecting the powerful waterfall into the heart of the stronghold. The torrential waters flooded the lower levels, drowning many dwarves and destroying the city’s precious forges and granaries. In the chaos, the reservoir beneath the stronghold burst, and a river of water and debris swept through the fortress, killing hundreds and leaving the survivors in shock. In the midst of the disaster, King Thrain Stonehammer, a descendant of King Ubbin, took charge. He ordered the evacuation of the stronghold, leading his people to higher ground in the upper levels of the fortress. As the waters continued to rise, King Thrain knew that more drastic measures were needed to prevent the complete destruction of Ubbin Falls. According to legend, King Thrain made the ultimate sacrifice to save his people. He ventured deep into the stronghold’s ancient mines, accompanied by his most trusted warriors, to seal off the source of the flooding. The path they took led them to the heart of the mountain, where the stone was weakest. There, Thrain and his warriors detonated a series of explosives they had hastily crafted, causing a controlled cave-in that redirected the water into the lower mines, sacrificing those levels of the stronghold forever. Though the plan was successful in stopping the flood, King Thrain and his warriors were lost in the collapse, entombed within the mountain they sought to protect. His selfless act allowed the remaining dwarves to survive, and the stronghold, though severely damaged, was preserved. After the Great Cataclysm, Ubbin Falls was a shadow of its former glory. The lower levels were sealed off, and the once-great forges fell silent. The surviving dwarves rebuilt what they could, but the stronghold was never the same. The memory of King Thrain’s sacrifice weighed heavily on the dwarven people, and Ubbin Falls became a symbol of sorrow, sacrifice, and the resilience of the dwarven spirit. The once-celebrated waterfall, now seen as both a blessing and a curse, was renamed the Tears of Thrain. It serves as a constant reminder of the lives lost and the sacrifices made to save the stronghold. The dwarves of Ubbin Falls hold an annual ceremony at the site where King Thrain’s final act took place, honoring the fallen king and his warriors. Over time, the stronghold’s name took on a new meaning. While "Ubbin Falls" originally referred to the literal waterfall that dominated the fortress, it now also symbolizes the fall of the dwarven kingdom from its former grandeur and the enduring legacy of its people. The stronghold remains inhabited by a small but proud community of dwarves who maintain their ancient traditions, guarding the history and memories of their ancestors. Adventurers who visit Ubbin Falls often find themselves drawn to the tales of the stronghold’s tragic past and the bravery of King Thrain. Some seek to explore the sealed lower levels, hoping to uncover lost treasures or learn the secrets of the ancient forges, though many have failed to return from the dark, flooded depths where the echoes of the past still linger.